A local development company is looking to build a residential and retail property called The River in North Surrey near the Scott Road SkyTrain station.

LionRock Developments has applied to subdivide four acres from a larger property owned by Home Depot, located at 12701 110th Ave.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts and city council expressed support for the two-phase project Monday night at a land-use meeting.

"What we're attempting to do in this project is create a space that the community, both from Bridgeview and the surrounding areas, get some use out of this," said Mark Foster, chairman of LionRock Developments.

The River will house 252 condos across a total of 230,000 square feet, as well as such services as daycare, preschool, counselling and transit services.

It will also have a 12,000-square-foot multi-use space, part of which will be for the new location of the Royal Heights Baptist Church. The church's old location will be used by several partnering churches, which currently share the space with Royal Heights.

"We have a South Asian church, a Spanish church and a Korean church all using it," said Foster.

LionRock Developments started in 2010 as a result of talks between Foster and Senior Pastor Alan Braun of Royal Heights Church. The two discussed the state of churches in the area and were interested in implementing them closer to residential areas to help people regardless of faith, or lack thereof.

"These conversations boiled down to a decision to create a company that would not only develop church properties, per se, but also look to strengthen and sustain community," said Foster.

There will be two four-level above-ground parking garages and 75,000 square feet for offices and retail and 230,000 square of residential space with residential suites available for purchase.

Pending any delays in the approval process, The River is scheduled for completion in 2016 with an estimated cost of $50 million.